Temperature-indicating spoon.



PATENTED FEB. 14, 1905.

H. E. ASHLEY. TEMPERATURE INDIGATING SPOON,

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 18. 1904.

@ercaw. JCarr-wowE- Qak lj,

UNITED STATES Patented February 14, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

TEMPE-RATURE-INDICATING SPOON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,433, dated February14, 1905.

Application filed May 18, 1904. Serial No. 208,598.

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON EVERETT AsH- LEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New Bedford, county of Bristol, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Temperature-IndicatingSpoons, of

which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a spoon providedwith thermometric means to indicate the temperature of the liquid orsemiliquid material stirred or agitated by the same.

In the preparation of various hot drinks or beverages it is verydesirable for the person mixing the same, as well as the person whodrinks the mixture, to have a definite idea as to the temperaturethereof in order that the mixture may be properly made and palatable andthat the drinking of the mixture may not be attended with pain orinjury. At present this is left Wholly to the skill or judgment of theperson who prepares the mixture, who guesses at the temperature by theheat imparted to the hand during manipulation.

By my present invention the temperature of the mixture is indicatedaccurately at a point plainly visible and conveniently accessible, sothat the operator knows exactly what he is doing.

In accordance with my present invention 1 provide a mixing or stirringspoon comprising an elongated handle and bowl portion and provided witha temperature-indicator so arranged that the portion thereof responsiveto changes in temperature is close to the bowl. A scale, denoted eitherby degrees or by names-such as Lukewarm, Hot, Very Hotor by both, isformed on the handle at or near its upper end, so that at a glance theoperator or the user can discern the temperature of the mixture. Theportion of the thermometric device responsive to changes in temperatureis so located with relation to the bowl that such portion will beimmersed in the mixture when the same is stirred in a cup or glass.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a spoon provided with a thermometricindicator embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalcentral section of the spoon, the thermometer being shown in elevation;and Fig. 3 Lean enlarged plan view similar to Fig. l, but centrallybroken out and showing more clearly the details of construction.

The spoon is herein shown as having a bowl 1 and an elongated handle 2,broadened at its outer end at 3, of the general form usedby druggistsand others in mixing hot drinks. In the present embodiment 'of myinvention the handle is widened and concaved at a near the bowl to forma cup-like bulb-seat, and a longitudinal slot 5 is made in the handle,extending from the seat w'ell toward its outer end. A thermometercomprising a bulb 6 and stem 6 is applied to the spoon, the bulb 6resting in the seat and the stem entering the longitudinal slot 5, asclearly shown in Fig.

2. Suitable clips orhands 7 on the handle cross the stem and hold thesame in place, and a basket-like guard 8 on the handle extends over thebulb and protects it from injury, the

- ter will immerse the bulb and will thereby cause the mercury to risein the stem'G in proportion to the temperature of the mixture. In orderto conveniently indicate such temperature to the operator, a scale ismade on the broad part 3 of the spoon-handle, and I have shown thetemperature as indicated at one side of the stem by numbers denotingdegrees, as &c., while on the opposite side corresponding Words areshown, as -Lukewarmf Warm, &c.

The use of the device will be obvious from the foregoing description inconnection with ,the drawings.

seat, and its stem extended within the longitudinal slot, a guard forthe bulb, and an indicating-scale on the broadened and flat outer end ofthe handle.

2. A device of the class described, comprisinga spoon having a bowl andan integral handle, the latter having a concave bulb seat formed thereinadjacent the bowl, and an elongated slot leading from the seat along thehandle, a thermometer attached to the spoon having its bulb in the seat,and its stem located Within the longitudinal slot, an indicating-scaleformed directly on the spoon handle, and means to retain the thermometerin place.

In testimony WhereofI have signed my name I 5 to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRISON EVERETT ASHLEY.

Witnesses:

STANISLAS T. BENOIT, O. H. BENOIT.

